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Thin SiN films deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) have been analyzed by a variety of analytical techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray reflectivity (XRR), and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry/Hydrogen Forward Scattering (RBS/HFS) to collect data on bonding, density and chemical composition respectively. Both tensile and compressive SiN films have been deposited and analyzed. Mechanisms of stress formation in SiN thin films are discussed. It has been found that amount of bonded hydrogen as detected by FTIR is higher for compressive films compared to tensile SiN films. Amount of bonded hydrogen in a film is correlated well with tensile stress. Effect of deposition temperature and other process parameters on stress have been studied. Exposure of SiN films to elevated temperature after deposition lead to increase in tension and degradation in compressive stress. New approaches to stress generation in thin films like creation of multilayer film structures have been delineated.

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This paper reports a detailed study of several hydrogen-based plasma cleans prior to plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of silicon carbonitride cap films, and it finds a tradeoff between improved electromigration and increased copper resistivity. Previously proposed mechanisms do not explain this tradeoff, and we propose an alternative mechanism for the cap/copper interface modification. Electromigration is improved by forming a copper silicide interfacial layer, but the copper resistivity is also increased by silicon diffusion into the copper from the cap/copper interface. Hydrogen-based plasmas generate silicon by reacting with the silicon nitride seasoning layer on the chamber surfaces and transporting the silicon to the copper surface. The transport of silicon can be prevented by adding nitrogen to the plasma or removing the seasoning layer.

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